Ἀρρηφορία

arrêphoria

Translated by Jennifer Benedict · 21 Nov 2001 · Vetting: high · 9 revisions

Translation

A sacrifice [of that name].
If [it is written] with an alpha, [it is] a)rrhfori/a ["carrying of things that cannot be named"], since the maidens used to carry in boxes things that cannot be named [arrêta] for the goddess;¹ but if with an epsilon, [then it is] e(rsefori/a ["carrying of Herse"]; for they used to hold a procession for Herse, the daughter of Kekrops.²
Also [sc. attested is] a)rrhfo/roio ["of a maiden performing the arrêphoria"].³
Also [sc. attested is] a)rrhfo/roi, [meaning the women] who carry the unnamable mysteries. "a)rrhfo/roi and all-hallowed women [panagei=s gunai=kes]."⁴

Greek original

Ἀρρηφορία· θυσία. εἰ μὲν διὰ τοῦ ἄλφα ἀρρηφορία, ἐπειδὴ τὰ ἄρρητα ἐν κίσταις ἔφερον τῇ θεῷ αἱ παρθένοι· εἰ δὲ διὰ τοῦ ε ἑρσεφορία· τῇ γὰρ Ἕρσῃ ἐπόμπευον τῇ Κέκροπος θυγατρί. καὶ Ἀρρηφόροιο. καὶ Ἀρρηφόροι, αἱ τὰ ἄρρητα φέρουσαι μυστήρια. ἀρρηφόροι καὶ παναγεῖς γυναῖκες.

Betacode

*)arrhfori/a: qusi/a. ei) me\n dia\ tou= a)/lfa a)rrhfori/a, e)peidh\ ta\ a)/rrhta e)n ki/stais e)/feron th=| qew=| ai( parqe/noi: ei) de\ dia\ tou= e e(rsefori/a: th=| ga\r *(/ersh| e)po/mpeuon th=| *ke/kropos qugatri/. kai\ *)arrhfo/roio. kai\ *)arrhfo/roi, ai( ta\ a)/rrhta fe/rousai musth/ria. a)rrhfo/roi kai\ panagei=s gunai=kes.

Notes (4)

cf. generally alpha 3860, alpha 3861.
1Athena. ↩
2(And goddess of the dew.) From the scholia to Aristophanes, Lysistrata 642. In this passage the verb a)rrhfore/w occurs in the imperfect h)rrhfo/roun, where the initial eta could be the augmented form of either alpha or epsilon (see web address 1) -- hence the issue discussed here; cf. epsilon 3081, and e.g. Herodian 2.479.3. ↩
3Epic/poetic genitive, evidently quoted from somewhere. ↩
4Aelian fr. 307 Domingo-Forasté (310 Hercher); more fully at pi 150.

↩

References

H.W. Parke, Festivals of the Athenians (London 1977) 141-3
Noel Robertson, "The Riddle of the Arrhephoria at Athens," Harvard Studies in Classical Philology 87 (1983) 241-288

External resources

Web address 1 perseus.tufts.edu

Linked from (4)

α2082Ἀνάστατοιanastatoi α3848Ἀρρηνοφορεῖνto carry the sacred objects δ1492Δράκαυλοςdrakaulos; living with a snake χ35ΧαλκεῖαChalkeia, Bronzes

Neighbours in Adler order

α3860Ἄρρητονaccursed α3861Ἀρρητοποιΐαdoing the unmentionable α3862ἌρητοςArêtos, Aretus α3863Ἀρρηφορίαarrêphoria α3864ἈρίαAria α3865ἈριάδνηAriadne α3866ἈριαμένηςAriamenes

Revisions (9)

31 Aug 2015David Whitehead
11 Apr 2012David Whiteheadx-refs; another keyword; cosmetics
21 Jun 2011Catharine Rothupdated reference, upgraded link
21 May 2008David Whiteheadaugmented notes and keywords; betacoding and other cosmetics
20 May 2008Catharine Rothadded bibliography
23 Apr 2008Catharine Rothaugmented note, added link
21 Nov 2001David Whiteheadmodified translation; augmented notes; added bibliography; cosmetics
21 Nov 2001Jennifer Benedicttranslated

Translation

Greek original

Betacode

*)arrhfori/a: qusi/a. ei) me\n dia\ tou= a)/lfa a)rrhfori/a, e)peidh\ ta\ a)/rrhta e)n ki/stais e)/feron th=| qew=| ai( parqe/noi: ei) de\ dia\ tou= e e(rsefori/a: th=| ga\r *(/ersh| e)po/mpeuon th=| *ke/kropos qugatri/. kai\ *)arrhfo/roio. kai\ *)arrhfo/roi, ai( ta\ a)/rrhta fe/rousai musth/ria. a)rrhfo/roi kai\ panagei=s gunai=kes.

Notes (4)

cf. generally alpha 3860, alpha 3861.

1Athena. ↩

2(And goddess of the dew.) From the scholia to Aristophanes, Lysistrata 642. In this passage the verb a)rrhfore/w occurs in the imperfect h)rrhfo/roun, where the initial eta could be the augmented form of either alpha or epsilon (see web address 1) -- hence the issue discussed here; cf. epsilon 3081, and e.g. Herodian 2.479.3. ↩

3Epic/poetic genitive, evidently quoted from somewhere. ↩

4Aelian fr. 307 Domingo-Forasté (310 Hercher); more fully at pi 150.